Coupler device for coupling structures, in particular coupling structures of rail vehicles

Abstract

A coupling device for coupling structures, in particular coupling structures of rail vehicles, has a drawbar (1), a plurality of spring elements (2) mounted on the drawbar in order to dampen the resulting tensile and compression forces, a plate (5) arranged between the spring elements, and a support flange (3) which can be fixed to a rail vehicle. The plate (5) which bears the drawbar (1) is held on the support flange (3) and at its outer circumference is connected in each case to a respective carrier disc (10, 11) in an opening (8', 9') of the support flange (3) by means of overload elements (14a, 14b) which are arranged next to one another. The overload elements (14a, 14b) can be sheared in the event of an overload in the direction of the compression or tensile force of the drawbar (1). A secure connection is thus formed between the support flange and the plate, which can be separated in a functionally reliable manner in the event of a crash or overload, but which ensures a perfect coupling connection in normal operation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling device for coupling structures, in particular of rail vehicles, having a drawbar and a plurality of spring elements mounted on the drawbar in order to dampen the resulting tensile and compression forces. Furthermore, arranged between them is a plate and a support flange which can be fixed to the rail vehicle, on which the plate carrying the drawbar is held. BACKGROUND

[0002] A coupling device of this type is disclosed in the printed publication EP 3 385 143. The coupling head is connected to a drawbar which is connected in a jointed manner to a guide bolt of the rail vehicle, which, together with the spring elements mounted thereto, is provided in order to dampen the compression and tensile forces which arise when in the coupled state of the rail vehicle. The rotatable plate is mounted with the guide bolt in a sleeve-shaped housing, in which it can be displaced axially in the flange.

[0003] In this case, an overload protection is provided, in normal operation the housing is axially fixed in the flange by opposing overload elements, so that in the event of an overload they are sheared off by the housing and the housing together with the rotatable plate and the drawbar with the spring elements is then pushed backwards by the flange. This has the advantage that after the overload elements have been sheared off, for example after a collision with another vehicle, the drawbar together with the plate and the spring elements have enough space for a displacement movement. However, this requires on the one hand a complex structural configuration and on the other hand leads to the fact that after the overload elements have been sheared off, the spring pack can only be removed together with the housing. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the invention to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a coupling device of the type mentioned in the preamble, which is simple in its structural design and can be easily assembled.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is solved in that the plate is connected at its outer circumference with a carrier disc in a respective opening of the support flange by at least two overload elements arranged next to each other in each case. In this case, these overload elements can be sheared off in the event of an overload in the direction of the compression or tensile forces of the drawbar. It is very advantageous in this case that in each case at least one spring element is arranged on both sides of the plate in order to obtain a suitably adapted structure of the device.

[0006] Thus, a firm connection is formed between the support flange and the plate, which can functionally reliably be separated in the event of a collision or overload, but which ensures a perfect coupling connection in normal operation.

[0007] A traction rod with a spring element mounted thereon and a plate arranged therebetween can be pushed into a support flange as modular units, and it and the plate are connected to a bearing plate placed in an opening via an overload element. In this case, the plate is constructed without a pivot pin and lacks the housing present with known coupling devices, which is highly advantageous in terms of technical production.

[0008] The invention also specifies that, preferably, in each case, a fixing device for securing the coaxially arranged bearing disks to the plate is provided on the axis of rotation.

[0009] In a context where implementation is to be as gradual as possible, it is advantageous that, in each case, two overload elements are arranged in pairs, one after the other, on the plate in the axial direction of the traction rod. The number, arrangement, and size of the overload elements installed in the load-bearing plate can be adjusted according to the corresponding operating conditions.

[0010] The connector device according to the invention further specifies that the plate and the bearing discs arranged coaxially therewith on both sides are mounted in the opening of the supporting flange so as to pivot about the vertical axis. In addition, a traction rod is mounted in the plate for connecting movement via a rotary joint, by means of which the traction rod can pivot both horizontally and vertically.

[0011] This allows for sufficient deflection of the traction rod, and therefore sufficient deflection of the connector or similar in its mounted state on the rail vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate:

[0013] Figure 1 A coupling device according to the invention is shown in a longitudinal section through the axis of the overload element;

[0014] Figure 2 The figure shows the longitudinal section offset at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the traction rod. Figure 1 Connector devices; and

[0015] Figure 3 It is based on Figure 1 A top view of the connector device. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Figure 1The coupling device shown mainly comprises a drawbar 1 which can be connected to a link, a coupling head, a spacer tube, a screw sleeve, an energy-absorbing element, etc., and which is provided with a plurality of spring elements 2 mounted thereon for damping the compressive and tensile forces occurring in the coupled state. Furthermore, a support flange 3 is provided which can be fixed to a car body of a rail vehicle or the like, which are not shown in detail, the support flange 3 being provided with openings 3' for the fixing. In this case, the drawbar 1 is mounted in a plate 5 which is arranged between the spring elements 2. This coupling device is very suitable for various rail vehicles, such as passenger cars, freight cars, locomotives or vehicles for other purposes.

[0017] According to the invention, the plate 5 is connected at its outer circumference in each case to the load-bearing disks 10, 11 in the openings 8', 9' of the support flange 3 by at least two adjacently arranged overload elements 14a, 14b in each case. The overload elements 14a, 14b are arranged therein with their axes 14 parallel to one another in a plane in the direction of the drawbar 1 and can be sheared off in the event of an overload in the direction of the compressive or tensile forces of the drawbar. However, the overload elements can also be arranged parallel in a plane.

[0018] The sectional planes shown along the axes 14 of the adjacently arranged overload elements 14a, 14b are arranged at a distance from the rotational axis A of the load-bearing disks 10, 11 and the longitudinal axis of the drawbar, respectively.

[0019] According to Figure 2 The coaxially arranged load-bearing disks 10, 11 and the plate 5 in the openings 8' of the protrusions 8, 9 of the support flange 3 are provided with a central hole 4 in the axial direction A, wherein in each case detachable fixing means 4a are provided for fixing them to the plate 5. The fixing means 4a are preferably screws and serve mainly as assembly aids. They can also be screwed in at other positions than the positions shown, and several of them can be used per load-bearing disk 10, 11. In the event of an overload, the fixing means 4a are likewise sheared off.

[0020] The spring elements 2 arranged in rows on both sides of the plate 5 are fitted with five pads on one side in the direction of compression and with three pads on the other side in the direction of tension. Depending on the case, this number can be varied in each case by at least one spring element 2, or more than two spring elements, between, in front of and behind the plate, as indicated.

[0021] The preassembled drawbar 1 to form a unit can thus be pushed together with the spring elements 2 and the plate 5 located therebetween into the support flange 3 fixed to the rail vehicle and then fixed in the support flange by the overload elements 14a, 14b being fixed in the holes in the plate 5.

[0022] These overload elements 14a, 14b are preferably configured as shear bolts or shear screws. However, they can also be configured as disc-shaped, slotted nuts or other forms and provided with a recessed form of predetermined breaking point and dimensioned such that they are sheared off in the event of a predetermined overload. In the event of an excessively high impact force, the drawbar 1 is pushed backwards together with the spring elements 2 and the plate 5. Depending on the impact force, this can be overcome without major damage to the coupling structure or the vehicle. The number and / or size of the overload elements used can therefore vary from case to case, so that their effectiveness can be optimally configured to meet the maximum impact force or pulling force under the respective requirements.

[0023] The plate 5 comprises two diametrically arranged peripheral surfaces 6, 7, which are guided almost without any clearance in the protrusions 8, 9, are flattened on the inner side of the support flange 3. In principle, these flat peripheral surfaces can also be configured as cylindrical or similar.

[0024] In addition, a closable cover 12 can also be fixed on the protrusions 8, 9, in each case closing the openings 8', 9', which can be closed by means of a plurality of fixing means 12', such as screws. By means of this secure fixing of the cover 12, it is achieved that in the event of a shearing off, the carrier discs are securely held in the support flange and they can easily be replaced.

[0025] According to the coupling device according to the invention, the plate 5 and the coaxially arranged carrier discs 10, 11 on both sides thereof are mounted so as to pivot about the vertical axis A in the openings 8', 9' of the protrusions 8, 9 of the support flange 3. The drawbar 1 is also preferably mounted in the plate 3 so as to be deflected by means of a rotary joint 13. As a representation, the rotary joint 13 is indicated as a spherical sleeve at the periphery. Thus, the drawbar 1 can be pivoted both horizontally and vertically about a limited angle.

[0026] The spring elements 2 and the plate 5 located therebetween are mounted on the drawbar 1 between the front sleeve 19 and the rear locking disc 15. They can be fixed against the sleeve 19 and pretensioned by means of a nut 16 or similar, which can be screwed into the rear end of the drawbar.

[0027] Within the framework of the invention, an intermediate centering element is assigned to the support flange 3, which at the support flange 3, on at least one side, or preferably on both sides, in each case comprises a centering device 20, which consists of a spring pressure body 21 with a sliding element 22 and which interacts therewith, and a guide rail 23 with a guide track 23'. The spring pressure body 21 comprises a pressure spring 21 ', a piston element 24, which moves when subjected to pressure from the spring, and mounted thereon is a sliding element 22, which is preferably provided in the form of a roller. The sliding element 22 is pressed by the spring pressure body 21 onto the guide rail 23, which is laterally fixed by the plate 5 and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the traction rod 1. The guide rail 23 can also be located directly at the plate and, depending on the desired properties of the intermediate centering element, can be configured in the shape of a cylinder, curved or some other form.

[0028] The intermediate centering element with the two centering devices 20 on both sides of the plate 5 thus interacts with the unit formed by the traction rod 1 and the plate 5 in such a way that the traction rod 1 is positioned with its longitudinal axis in the unloaded state always approximately horizontally aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. Intentionally, the sliding elements 23 engage with the axis of rotation A on the guide rail 23 offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the traction rod 1, so that a torque force acts on the plate.

[0029] In the coupled state of the device and in the case of a deflection on the traction rod as a result of a rotation of the plate 5 in the driving operation, the guide rail 23 is pivoted in the opposite direction, thus the spring pressure bodies 21 are pressed further together on one side by the sliding elements 22 in each case and relaxed on the other side. When the coupling device is released, the traction rod 1 is again adjusted horizontally to the middle.

[0030] In the radial elongation of the protrusion 9, the support flange 3 can comprise a connecting arm, which is connected to it in a bearing 17 and preferably aligned parallel to the traction rod, with a pressure spring exerting a pressure on the connecting arm in the longitudinal direction, which is not shown in more detail. This couples the support flange 3 to the traction rod 1 in such a way that a support pressure is generated by means of it, the connecting arm and the coupling head connected to it being centered at a predetermined height position. Such a connecting arm is described in detail in European application No. 19 214 224.8, so in the following it is not described in more detail.

[0031] In the event of a collision with an obstacle or other vehicle, the drawbar 1 is subjected to an overload force, which, when a predetermined strength is reached, causes the overload element to shear. As a result, the drawbar 1, together with the spring group 2 and the plate 5, is pushed rearward through the opening in the support flange 3, which is flush with the outer contour of the plate, into the car body of the rail vehicle. Thus, after a collision, the spring group can be put back into use without any problems, since no irreversible damage has occurred.

[0032] According to Figure 3 , in order to connect the bearing plates 10, 11 to the plate 5, in each case four overload elements 14a, 14b are provided, which are arranged in pairs, whose axes 14 are parallel to one another and in a plane in the direction of the drawbar. Advantageously, the four overload elements 14a, 14b are arranged symmetrically and at the same distance from the axis A. Furthermore, it can be seen that the center of the fixing device 4a, the cover 12 and the number of its fixing devices 12' are arranged.

[0033] The foregoing exemplary embodiments have disclosed the invention sufficiently. However, it can also be disclosed by further variants. For example, the bearing plates can be fixed in the respective openings of the support flange. The number of overload elements with the respective bearing plates is at least two. These can be arranged in principle on the plane of the longitudinal axis of the drawbar.

Claims

1. A connector device for connecting structures, comprising: Tow bar (1); Multiple spring elements (2) are mounted on the traction rod to dampen tension and pressure; Plate (5) arranged between the spring elements; A support flange (3) configured to be fixed to a rail vehicle, wherein the plate (5) is mounted on the traction rod (1) and held on the support flange (3), the support flange comprising two protrusions, each protrusion having an opening, and Two support plates, each connected at its outer circumference to one of the support flanges by at least two overload elements arranged side-by-side in a corresponding opening, the overload elements being configured to shear off in the direction of pressure or tension of the traction rod in the event of overload. The intermediate centering element is assigned to the support flange, and interacts with the unit formed by the traction rod and the plate, allowing the traction rod to be adjusted. The longitudinal axis of the traction rod is horizontally aligned with the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle in the unloaded state. The intermediate centering element includes a centering device at the support flange, the centering device comprising a spring pressure body with a sliding element and a guide rail that interacts with the spring pressure body.

2. The connector device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that... A first fixing device is provided in the axis (A) of the bearing disks (10, 11) arranged coaxially to each other for fixing them to the plate (5), wherein the plane formed by the paired overload elements (14a, 14b) is located at a distance from the axis (A) of the bearing disks (10, 11).

3. The connector device as described in claim 2, characterized in that... Overload elements (14a, 14b) are provided for connecting corresponding bearing discs (10, 11) to the plate (5). They are arranged in pairs with their axes (14) parallel to each other and arranged in the plane of the direction of the traction rod (1).

4. The connector device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that... The traction rod (1) is additionally mounted in the plate (5) via a rotary joint (13) so that the traction rod can be deflected.

5. The connector device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that... The support flange (3) includes protrusions (8, 9) on both sides with corresponding openings (8', 9') for the bearing discs (10, 11), which can be closed on the outside by a number of second fixing devices via a cover (12).

6. The connector device as described in any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that... The plate (5) and the support flange (3) are sized on the outer and inner sides respectively, such that the traction rod (1) and the spring element (2) mounted thereon, as well as the plate (5) arranged between them, can be pushed into the support flange (3) as a unit, and the plate (5) can be connected to the bearing plate (10, 11) placed in the opening (8', 9') via the first fixing device and the overload element (14a, 14b).

7. The connector device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that... The guide rail (23) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the traction rod (1).

8. The connector device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that... Arranged at the support flange (3) is a connecting arm, which is aligned parallel to the traction rod (1) at the bearing (17) in the extension of one of the protrusions. The connecting arm is held on one side by the support flange (3) and on the other side by the traction rod (1), and has the function of generating support pressure on the traction rod (1), thus causing at least a certain centering height position of the connector.

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